Grief, war and elections as Israel marks October 7

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Re’im (Israel) (AFP) – Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Wednesday with silent tributes, new strikes on Gaza and intense political debate, weeks before elections in which the country’s deadliest day will be front and center.

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At the site of the Nova music festival, where Hamas militants in trucks and paragliders opened fire at dawn on October 7, 2023, family members bowed their heads in silence – although at least one instead played techno music in tribute to the fallen.

Both at Nova and at the Kfar Aza Kibbutz, another site of mass killings three years earlier, AFP reporters heard loud banging from the Gaza border during commemorations as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a ceasefire officially in place for the past year.

Gaza officials said at least two people were killed in overnight strikes in the territory, most of which were reduced in relentless bombardment in retaliation for the worst attack ever against Israel.

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On the Nova site, Katia Zohar, whose daughter Bar Zohar was killed at the age of 23, called the start of the attack at 6:29 a.m. (0329 GMT) “the minute that changed our lives forever”.

“Unfortunately, I remember everything,” Zohar said. “The moment she called me to come and pick her up because there were missiles in the air. Then the second time she called from the street, screaming that they were shooting at her.”

Anna Davitashvili, 53, paid tribute to her eldest son Shaun, who was killed at Nova at the age of 25 along with friends, by playing the last track of techno music that partygoers were dancing to when the attack began.

“I feel him here. I’m terribly sorry that I couldn’t save him, I couldn’t help him get out of this massacre,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

– election campaign –

On October 27, Israel will hold elections for the first time since the attack, with polls showing a close race for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has ordered the largest offensive in Gaza in three years and has fought wars against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as Iran, whose clerical government supports Hamas.

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On the Nova site, Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister who is trying to oust Netanyahu, told reporters of the attack: “This was a colossal failure of the State of Israel, which was established to defend the Jews in our country.”

The centre-left Democratic Party posted images of the attack online, without comment.

“A government that has not destroyed the rule of Hamas for three years is a government dangerous for Israel,” said Democratic leader Yair Golan.

Netanyahu marked October 7 with official ceremonies in Jerusalem on Monday, which was closer to the anniversary on the Jewish calendar.

He said there was “no forgiveness for the killers” and vowed never to allow the rule in Gaza by Hamas, which has faced heavy losses but remains in control of part of the territory.

Hamas, while defeated, nevertheless remained on the third anniversary, issuing a statement calling October 7 “a glorious day in the history of our people.”

The group said it had “destroyed the myth of the invincible army,” calling the attack “a natural response to, and culmination of, decades of bitter suffering,” including Israel’s blockade of Gaza since the Islamist movement captured the territory in 2007.

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– Shock to the Israeli psyche –

October 7 delivered a deep shock to the psyche of Israel, which prided itself on protecting its borders despite long odds.

The Israelis had a more triumphant narrative last week when passengers helped quell an attack by the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, although questions were soon raised as to why he was allowed to fly.

On October 7, Palestinian fighters breached the border, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets and grenades.

A total of 1,221 people were killed in the attack, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of whom have already died.

Israel’s military offensive displaced almost the entire population of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

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